Rex Kerr
Sep 16, 2024

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But you don't need to parameterize with k at all. In addition to x = y= 0, which is a solution, you have x != 0 and y != 0, which allows you to divide both sides by xy to get 1 = 1/x + 1/y. You can then rearrange to get, for instance, y = 1/(1-1/x) = x/(x-1). Since x=0, y=0 also works here, we don't need to keep it as an extra solution.

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Rex Kerr
Rex Kerr

Written by Rex Kerr

One who rejoices when everything is made as simple as possible, but no simpler. Sayer of things that may be wrong, but not so bad that they're not even wrong.

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